December 29, 2022

Wellesley backs G2G bridge and tunnel plan

Leah Gerber Observer Staff

PLANS FOR A NEW PEDESTRIAN bridge along the Guelph to Goderich (G2G) Trail got a boost last week when Wellesley council agreed to administer the donations and expenditures related to the project.

The township will work with the Region of Waterloo to move

forward with the work, which involves a bridge over the Conestogo River on a stretch of the Kissing Bridge Trail near Wallenstein, as well as a pedestrian tunnel under a busy stretch of Line 86.

The motion was passed December 20 with the provision that the township would incur no expenses related to the projects.

Chief administrative offi-

cer Rik Louwagie said the region would be in charge of construction, either as a project completed by region staff or by a contractor hired by the region.

Mayor Joe Nowak said that the horse-and-buggy community is hoping the tunnel under Line 86 will be large enough for them to use, with Louwagie acknowledging that the project managers are aware of the request.

The Kissing Bridge Trail is part of a 124-kilometre rail trail which stretches from Guelph to Goderich. Community volunteers across the trail are working to make it fully accessible and safe to use. In Wellesley, the trail runs from Line 86 in Wallenstein to Road 116 east of Millbank.

The proposed bridge would use the existing abutments west of Wallenstein left over from when

the train bridge was removed some 40 years ago.

According to Louwagie’s report, staff would handle the donations and administer expenses related to the project, subject to organizers providing the township with a detailed budget.

The costs of the projects are expected to be fully funded by donations.

Ahead of their holiday break, students from St. Clement Catholic School perform at their Christmas concert on Dec. 21. Bill Atwood

News tips are always welcome.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Online: observerxtra.com/tips

Police warn of increase in cases of “grandparent scam”

Gerber Observer Staff

GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, TAKE CARE!

THE grandparent scam, also known as the emergency scam, targeting older residents, is making the rounds in the area.

In the grandparent scam, a fraudster will call a victim, and claim to be a family member or friend in trouble and needing money. Often, the fraudsters target older residents and claim to be their grandchild.

Becky Ribble, an Elmira resident, got the call.

“It’s awful. It’s like the worst, most real call,” she said.

“They said, ‘Mom, it’s me. I’ve been in a car accident.’ They were crying a lot. And they just kept saying it to me, ‘Mom, I was in a car accident.’”

“It was very emotionally charged. I was pretty worried at first. It was a very realistic call.”

In the grandparent scam, the fraudster often calls claiming to be the victim’s grandchild or other family member or friend in an emergency situation and they need money. Other times, the fraudster will claim to be a police officer or lawyer and that the victim’s grandchild has been caught with drugs or has been in an accident and needs bail money.

They usually tell the victim the investigation is bound by a “gag order” and direct them not to talk about the incident to

anyone, or else the grandchild will go to jail. Often, fraudsters will follow up with a second phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer or lawyer.

The fraudsters instruct the victim to take money out of the bank and coach them to lie about the purpose of the money to avoid suspicion from bank staff. They will also often send a delivery driver to pick up the money, or instruct the victim to send the funds via courier to a provided address.

Sometimes the scammers wait until the victim says their child’s name first, other times they make guesses about possible names for the grandchild.

Luckily, Ribble didn’t say her kid’s name first in the conversation. “But I think because I kept saying, ‘Who is this?’ and they couldn’t answer, (I wasn’t scammed,)” she said.

“I think some people might say their kid’s name and then they (the scammers) would say that it’s them. So because I didn’t do that, they hung up.”

Another woman in Elmira, who did not want to be identified, was not so lucky. She was convinced the person on the line was her grandson, and ended up losing a significant amount of money.

“The way they do it,” she said. “I knew about grandparent scams and so on, but however when

Building permit fees will increase 5% in 2023, Wellesley councillors decided in a meeting Dec. 20. A report from staff said the increase is needed because, “Over the last 3 years and looking ahead over the next several years, the anticipated costs for the (building) department as a whole are projected to exceed the revenue anticipated to be collected through the current fee schedule ... ”

The Region of Waterloo, in partnership with lower-tier municipalities, is getting a start on installing 43,000 LED streetlights. The lights are brighter and whiter than the yellow-hued lamps currently lining region and township roads, and will ultimately save taxpayers a big chunk of change every year. The region expects to save about $500,000 a year. From the Dec. 29, 2016 edition of The Observer

Fundraising campaign winds down, construction picks up at rec. complex

YOU CAN TAKE A SEAT

in the new arena off your last-minute gift list – all 291 have been sold – but the fundraising committee is still open to donations in support of the new Wellesley Township Recreation Centre.

The “Something for Everyone” campaign is in its final stages, set to wrap up at year’s end, but the committee remains open to any support from the community, says commit-

tee chair Chris Martin, noting the effort has met with widespread support. So much so that the group is sure to pass its goal of raising $2.5 million towards the $27-million project now under construction.

“The campaign is very successful, and it’s coming to a close – last chance to get involved. The seats are sold out, but there’s still an opportunity to make a donation. All donations will be recognized on the donor wall in the main lobby,” said Martin, noting

We will be observing the holidays from home!

a full tally will be reported to township council next month.

That accounting will include the likes of foundational donations such as the $1 million from developer Bill Gies – the project’s main facility will be known as the Bill Gies Recreation Centre – and the $500,000 from Jeff and Julie Jones of Linwood, which will see the Wellesley Township Community Health Centre’s facility named the Jones Family Health and Wellness Centre. But

there will also be a host of other donations that led to surpassing the goal, including naming rights on individual seats and benches in the arena.

“There was 291 seats, 20 benches and 12 drink rails. The seats went for $100, the benches for $200 and the drink rails for $500.

That raised $39,100 – that was 100 per cent sold out.”

Along with an NHL-sized rink, the 62,000-square-foot facility at Queens Bush and Hutchison roads in Welles-

The office will be closed from Friday, December 23, 2022 at noon until we reopen Monday, January 2, 2023.

We will be closed Friday, January 6, 2023.

If it matters to you. It matters to us.

Wellesley bldg. fees up From the archives

Leah

The steel framing now in place at the site of the Wellesley Township Recreaction Centre is the space to be occupied by the arena portion of the facility. Submitted

Steve Kannon

Observer Staff

SCAM: Variants of the fraud have been going on for years, with a resurgence lately, particularly in this area

the weeping voice – that’s what did it – came on the phone, ‘my grandson,’ all reason went out the window. All you think is about helping your grandson.”

“Because he’s sobbing, you’re convinced.”

“My focus was totally on helping my grandson not to have a police record. That was the bottom line. You know, (they said) he’s going to have a police record because there was marijuana in the car that he got a ride in.

“At the time, I was so focused on my grandson, on helping him. And I asked him what about your dad? Because that would be the first place he would go to in reality, but they had some reason that convinced me,” she said.

“Because the number one is always, it’s the

person that’s important, it’s not the money. That’s the number one that was in my head. It’s only money.” she said.

“I have to put it behind me,” she said. “They really know how to do it, let’s put it that way.”

“I think Elmira’s getting hit pretty hard,” said Ribble. “I’ve heard a lot of people who have fallen for it.”

Sgt. John Jaklitsch works with the Waterloo Regional Police Organized Financial Crime Unit. He says the first time he encountered this scam was about 20 years ago, but it has since reappeared in the region in the last year. The frequency of the scam goes up and down according to how aware people are about it. He says right now, he’s getting reports about these incidents almost

every day.

He estimates so far in 2022, there have been about 120 incidents in the region, with more happening.

That’s added up to almost $700,000 worth of losses.

Jaklitsch says often victims will say the scammer on the phone sounded just like their grandchildren, and often, victims are embarrassed, he said.

“They should absolutely not feel embarrassed. These scams are so sophisticated, they’re so well rehearsed. They know how to take advantage of emotion, they know exactly when to transition, they know what to say in a vague way to draw information out of the victims. They are literally experts. And they’ve fooled so many

people. There should be no embarrassment.”

“All communities throughout Ontario are getting hit in a major way,” he said. Jaklitsch says the grandparent scam is a problem in the province, nationwide and maybe internationally.

The Canadian AntiFraud Centre reports that from January to October this year, 75,474 reports of fraud were received, and nearly $430 million was lost. The organization also reports $2.4 million was recovered with the help from the centre.

“It’s nothing less than a despicable group taking advantage of our vulnerable seniors,” he said. “It’s an emotional ploy pulling on the heartstrings of our elderly community.”

Jaklitsch says there are three main red flags people need to be aware

of: that there is no such thing as a “gag order” in this particular circumstance in Ontario, no police officer will ever ask for money, and no police officer will ask you to lie to the bank.

He also mentioned that if the scammers do send someone to pick up money, they often show up in regular street clothes, instead of some sort of courier uniform, which is another red flag.

To be safe, pause and try to be reasonable, he said.

“Call that person, grandchild, child, friend, whoever, in order to confirm. Do a little fact checking,” he said.

Waterloo Region Police are giving the following tips to residents to protect themselves from this kind of scam:

„ Take time to think.

The fraudster will make it sound urgent to pressure you.

„ C ontact the family member in question. Emotions might be running high but take the time to check.

„ A sk questions only family members would know.

„ Call someone you trust or police for an opinion about the call (fraudsters will say they don’t want anyone to know because they are embarrassed).

„ D o not send any money.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this or another similar scam can file a complaint with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or contact Waterloo Regional Police at 519 570 9777.

The EDSS band performed for Park Manor Public School in Elmira on Dec. 19., playing the likes of the Top Gun theme song and Living on a Prayer, as well as some Christmas tunes. Leah Gerber

Walk-in support service for victims of intimate partner violence

In partnership with The Family Violence Project, the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) last week announced the addition of a walk-in support service for individuals experiencing intimate partner violence.

The walk-in service aims to provide barrier-free access for survivors of intimate partner violence seeking support and resources, such as police reporting, safety planning, family supports, access to shelter services, and counselling, police said in a release.

Located at Carizon (400 Queen St. S. in Kitchener), the walk-in service is

DECEMBER 13

2 : 39 PM | Waterloo Regional Police received a report of a theft from a vehicle in the area of Farmers Market Road in Woolwich Township. The owner of the vehicle advised that they had returned to their vehicle when they were approached by a male who advised that there was a nail in their tire. The male then assisted the vehicle owner to remove the nail. The person then returned to their vehicle. Later, the victim was alerted of a purchase made on their credit card. The victim then noted that the card had been removed from their vehicle. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-5709777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

DECEMBER 14

4 : 27 AM | Police received a report of a theft from a vehicle parked at a location on Church Street West in Elmira. The owner of the vehicle returned to find that their vehicle window had been damaged and their personal belongings were removed from their vehicle. Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 519-5709777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

7 : 22 AM | A vehicle collided with a horse-drawn buggy on Lobsinger Line in Wellesley Township. Both the vehicle and the buggy were travelling east when the driver of the motor vehicle struck the

available on Tuesdays from 12-6 p.m.

“As a founding member of the Family Violence Project, the police service remains committed to supporting survivors of intimate partner violence and their families, as well as holding offenders accountable. Intimate partner violence has no place in our community,” said Staff Sgt. Jamie Brosseau of the Intimate Partner Violence Unit (IPVU).

From 2016 to 2021, the IPVU handled more than 9,500 investigations and laid some 19,000 charges. These numbers demonstrate that intimate

buggy from behind. The occupants of the buggy were assessed by Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services. The investigation is ongoing.

2:29 PM | Police received a report of a theft from a vehicle parked at a location on Memorial Avenue in Elmira. Tools were stolen from the vehicle. The theft is believed to have occurred within the week prior to the report. Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477.

DECEMBER 16

12 : 30 AM | A Perth County OPP officer conducted a traffic stop on Perth Road 135 in the Township of Perth East. Upon speaking with the driver, it became apparent the driver had consumed alcohol and was displaying signs of impairment. A roadside screening device was administered, the driver was subsequently arrested and transported to a local operations center for further testing.

A 39-year-old Perth East man was subsequently charged with ‘operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).’ The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charge.

8:26 PM | On the previous day, unbeknownst to the homeowner, three packages were delivered to the front door of a residence on Meadow-

partner violence remains a significant issue in Waterloo Region.

“We hope this new initiative will help more victims come forward and get the support they need,” said Brosseau.

In addition to the walk-in support service, Carizon also offers a quick response program, a walk-in counselling service to provide support to individuals when they need it most. The program is also available on Tuesdays from 12-6 p.m.

The Family Violence Project brings together partners from the Waterloo Regional Police Service, Women’s Crisis

lark Place, Mannheim. At approximately 11:35 p.m., an unknown suspect stole the packages from the front porch of the home. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Waterloo Crime Stoppers.

DECEMBER 17

7 : 23 PM | Sometime during the overnight hours, an unknown suspect(s) entered a vehicle parked in a driveway on Isley Drive, Maryhill and stole personal property. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Waterloo Region Crime Stoppers.

DECEMBER 18

3 : 36 PM | Police received a report of a single-vehicle collision in Wilmot Township. A vehicle was travelling southbound on Wilmot Easthope Road when the vehicle slid off the road on a curve and struck a chevron sign. There were no injuries reported.

DECEMBER 19

1 : 13 PM | Police responded to a report of a theft at a hotel in the area of Benjamin Road and Farmers Market Road in St. Jacobs. Through investigation, police determined that a male suspect had stolen personal belongings and merchandise from various locations in the area.

At approximately 2 : 45 p.m., police located and arrested a 34-year-old Toronto man, charging him with ‘break and enter – commit,’ ‘theft of credit card,’ ‘theft under $5,000’ (two counts), ‘possession of property obtained

Services of Waterloo Region, Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Centre of Waterloo Region, Family and Children Services, Crown Attorney’s office, Carizon Family and Community Services, and Victim/ Witness Assistance Program, and provides wrap-around service to victims of intimate partner violence, all from a single location.

To learn more about the Family Violence Project, or how you can get help if you’ve experienced intimate partner violence, see www.carizon.ca/ counselling/family-violence-project.

by crime under $5,000,’ ‘possession of an identity document,’ ‘breach of probation order,’ ‘obstruct police officer’ ‘unauthorized possession of a weapon’ and ‘failure to comply with a release order.’ The accused was held in police custody for a bail hearing.

DECEMBER 20

3:33 AM | Perth County OPP investigated a break and enter at a Raymond Drive, Millbank address, responding to an alarm in progress. On arrival, officers determined that unknown person(s) attended the address and gained entry to the business. Once inside, unknown(s) removed several items, including Milwaukee heated jackets and tools. The value of the goods stolen was estimated at $15,000. Police are continuing to investigate and ask the public to report suspicious activity immediately, and remember to lock doors to vehicles, houses, garages, and sheds. Do not leave keys with vehicles, including ATVs. Consider installing security features, such as increased lighting, cameras, or alarms. Anyone with information regarding these incidents should immediately contact Perth County OPP at 1-888-3101122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.hpcrimestoppers. com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

The plan is to have wall panels in place next month.

REC. CENTRE: Project still on target for opening by fall, says township

→FROM 3

ley village will include eight dressing rooms (two fully accessible), a dressing room for the Applejacks Junior C hockey team, a youth centre, seniors’ centre, a gymnasium that could serve as a community centre, meeting rooms, fitness rooms, a walking track, a commercial kitchen, a multi-use court, a skate park, active outdoor play centre, two soccer fields and outdoor walking trails.

There will also be space for the community health centre at the location.

As well, there’s room on the site for a future second ice pad and outdoor pool.

Some of the steel framing is in place, outlining the arena portion of the structure. Builders are so far on pace for the planned opening next fall, says the township’s recreation director.

“We haven’t been told anything different yet. We do realize, though, that we are coming into winter construction season, so that can change. But as of today, we have been

given no indication that we won’t be in there for the fall of ’23,” Danny Roth said this week.

“Now, I’m not assuming that the full building will be done by 23. But the arena portion is the first portion that’s slated to be open, and then the other portions of the building that would be potentially still under construction for the remainder of the fall of 23. That’s been the plan all along.”

The structure visible at the site now represents the arena part of the facility.

“It’s not the lobby or the health centre or the gymnasium or the youth or seniors’ centre – that framing hasn’t been done yet. The footings are in for all of that, but that’s when people drive by, they see the structure right now, that’s just the arena that they’re seeing,” Roth explained.

The work that will see actual wall panels appear started a week ago and is expected to take about a month. At that point, work on the interior can take place.

OBSERVER EDITORIAL

When local news matters

Connect:

Optimistic or not, what lies ahead remains uknown

Though the coronavirus pandemic was less of an issue that in the previous two years, 2022 wasn’t exactly the improvement we’d hoped for some 365 days ago.

Inflation, housing woes, interest rates, the prospect of a recession and the war in Ukraine were at the top of the list of concerns that pushed COVID-19 to the back burner. Or at least somewhat more removed from the daily consciousness.

On the cusp of 2023, we may not be as optimistic looking forward as we were in the pandemic-focused immediate past.

That’s not a local issue, though there are varying degrees of optimism/pessimism around the world, as outlined in the latest global predictions from Ipsos, which polled more than 24,000 citizens in 36 countries about the year gone by and the year ahead.

The researchers’ findings? Global citizens are struggling to be optimistic about 2023 as most express concern about the state of the economy, the environment and world security.

Around half of those polled show a significantly more pessimistic view of what next year will bring, with much of that negativity surrounding the economic situation.

Overall, there is much more pessimism about the global economy than Ipsos saw at this time last year. Just 46 per cent on average believe that the global economy will be stronger next year, compared to 61 per cent who did so last year and 54 per cent in 2020. Half think it is likely that major stock markets around the world will crash, for instance, a significant increase from 2022 where 35 per cent thought that would happen.

Optimism about 23 varied significantly around the globe. The inhabitants of the likes of China (83 per cent) and India (81) see 2023 as likely to be an improvement over 2022, while those in places such as France (44 per cent), Germany (52) and the UK (53) were much less inclined to see better days ahead.

In Canada, 61 per cent say they are optimistic that 2023 will be a better year for them than it was in 2022, though just 36 per cent believe the global economy will be stronger.

We can’t know, of course, what 2023 has in store for us. That’s true of what feels like – or should be – a retreating pandemic situation, but more pressingly the staying power of inflationary prices and any recession/downturn that may follow.

We may enter the new year with personal goals and resolutions that, unlike the global issues, are within our own power to control, though even that awaits a future that doesn’t technically start for a few more days.

The coming of a new year is seen as a fresh start and a time for deciding what needs to be changed and where to go next. It’s for these reasons that so many people make New Year's resolutions to accomplish things such as to exercise more, quit smoking, pay off debt, save more money, complete projects, get organized, further education, lose weight, and the like.

Perhaps there’s an endless optimism that we can change, that we can be better – which, of course, recognizes that we all have something in our lives that we wish to alter. Psychologists tell us this is normal human behaviour, adding that the tough part is actually following through on the impulse for self improvement. In other words, fantasizing about a better you, about an idealized version of you – most of us can actually picture ourselves that way – will remain just that: a fantasy. Unless, that is, we are willing to work hard to make the dream a reality.

As individuals, we’ve been performing this ritual for centuries – for some of us, resolving to do the same thing, such as exercise more, is indeed a yearly ritual, but that’s another story. Still in holiday mode, perhaps, the future is unwritten.

The number of Canadians donating to charity, as a percentage of all tax filers,is at the lowest point in 20 years. The total amount donated by Canadians during the 2020 tax year – just 0.49% of income – is the lowest amount since at least 2000. Canadians’ generosity peaked at 0.72% in 2006, before declining in subsequent years.

Micro-suicide drones up the danger

Some lucky boys and girls are going to find micro-suicide drones in their stockings this Christmas! Get your orders in now!

I was idly scanning the website of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, as one does, and I came across a story on a new product from the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems: the Lanius loitering micro-suicide drone. There was a promotional video attached, and I just had to look.

It shows this palm-sized drone flying into a house, searching through the rooms one by one, finding its target (a ‘bad guy’ with a gun), and eliminating him with an explosion just big enough to kill everybody in that single room. The company’s voiceover, delivered in the urgent, hyper-masculine monotone that is standard in the genre, is a classic of its kind.

“Elbit Systems presents Lanius! Search and attack in one! An innovative, autonomous, lethal system based on racing drones!....

“The Lanius is equipped with ALine technology that allows navigation to building, scanning the building to identify openings, mapping and object avoidance, enemy detection and classification, target incrimination by human, and

lethality. The system identifies blocked openings and can perform ad hoc lethal ambush. Etc., etc.”

All this with noisy sound effects and dramatic music over footage of a bad guy (you can tell, because he’s wearing a ski mask) firing a machine gun out a window while the drone patiently, almost silently searches through the house, sneaks up behind him and blows him away.

And yes, there is ‘target incrimination by human.’ The operator of the drone actually gets a video view of the target before he presses the button that kills him. So that’s all right, then.

Of course, there’s always a battery problem with drones.

Elbit Systems’ suicide drones are technically ‘loitering’, but they are so small and light (maximum weight at take-off 1.25 kg.) that they only have a seven-minute flight time.

However, a solution is at hand: a ‘mother-ship’ drone that can loiter for a much longer time in the area, launching suicide mini-drones as required. All in all, the ideal tool for small-unit combat – or

for remote-controlled assassinations that do not expose the operator to much risk.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco two weeks ago, the city’s board of supervisors approved the deployment of remote-controlled robots in emergency situations. The 11-member board is a political body where ideological posturing plays a big role, but the Police Department just pointed out that they have already been using robots for the past 11 years.

They use them mostly to deliver warrants, said assistant police chief Dan Lazar, and they have no plans to give their robots guns. However, they could deploy robots equipped with explosive charges to deal with situations like “active shooter incidents and suicide bombers.”

Dan Lazar, meet Elbit Systems. I think you guys could do business together. And don’t forget my finder’s commission.

Actually, if Lazar can wait a year or two, he probably won’t have to go to Israel for this technology. The Israelis commercialise ‘security’ technology faster than most countries (like the phone-hacking military-grade spyware sold to foreign users by Israel’s NSO Group), but the major military players probably all have

...

... it matters where you get your local news.

observerxtra.com/staff

“There are over 260,000 Ontarians living with dementia today, and that number is going to triple within 30 years. We’re barely able to support those who need care today, let alone three times that number.”

Cathy

Barrick, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, on the creation of the Ontario Dementia Care Alliance (ODCA), a new advisory body seeking to transform dementia care.

Fraser InstituteZ

ANALYSIS OF CURRENT WORLD EVENTS

GWYNNE DYER Global Outlook on World Affairs

There are 2,688 crystal panels, 32,256 led lights in the 12ft diameter Waterford Ball that drops in Time’s Square marking the end of the year.

The New York Times building grand opening was the first New Year’s celebration in Time’s Square in New York.

100 million people around the globe watch the “ball drop” in New York City.

ↆ LAST WEEK:

Truth: According to emailsanta.com, Santa says he will be 1,751 years, 11 months, 8 days and 18 hours old.

Truth: There is no mention of the date of the birth of Jesus in the Bible. Historians believe Jesus was most likely born in the spring. The date likely has more to do with the pagan festival of Saturnalia which consisted of celebration and gift-giving.

Lie: Nine days before Christmas Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford told Mission Control they had seen an unidentified flying object” about to enter Earth’s atmosphere. They then started playing “Jingle Bells” on a harmonica and accompanied by sleigh bells.

You can play online by reading any online post at www.observerxtra.com. Vote for the lie and be notified if you are correct immediately.

Steve Kannon's column will return Thursday January 5, 2023

DYER: One more worry for some

→ FROM 6

Lanius-style drones under development.

The minor players will also have access to these systems before long, because the ‘security’ systems are very leaky. Moreover, the fact that drones of this sort have obvious tactical uses on the battlefield means that they will wind up widely distributed in the hands of ordinary soldiers in a few years’ time.

In fact, this technology is so small, cheap and convenient that it will become almost universally available – and what are the implications of that? For the military, not all that big.

These one-person-killer suicide drones would certainly be deployed in close-quarters static situations like the trench warfare that has set in along most of the Ukrainian-Russian front line, but there are already so many ways to kill

people remotely on the battlefield, from landmines to thermobaric weapons, that one more won’t make a big difference.

But for people interested in targeted assassinations of civilians, they are a dream come true. These drones are so small, so agile, and so quiet that they can get close to the target indoors or out without being noticed until the very last moment. Even if spotted, they are hard to destroy – and the operator has a fair chance of escaping unharmed.

It’s the high-value political targets who are most at risk from this new technology. They are already swathed in layers of security that isolate them from the public they are supposed to represent and serve. This will add an extra, even more intrusive layer to that protection –and they will still be more exposed to danger than before.

Find Us: 20B Arthur Street North, Elmira, Ontario, N3B 1Z9

Contact Us: Phone: 519-669-5790 Toll Free: 1-888-966-5942 Fax: 519-669-5753 Email: info@woolwichobserver.com newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Web: https://observerxtra.com

Social Media: Facebook: observerxtra Twitter: woolwichnews Instagram: observerxtra

Professional Associations:

• Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA)

• News Media Canada

• The Greater KW Chamber of Commerce

About Us: Independent, locally-owned and the only weekly community newspaper serving the residents of Woolwich and Wellesley Townships. Real news, real reporting concentrating on the close-tohome issues in our communities. When it comes to reaching our residents, The Observer is unsurpassed.

Press Oversight: The Observer is a member of the National Newsmedia Council - an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practises and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, contact: 519-669-5790 ext 103 or editor@woolwichobserver.com. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a complaint, visit mediacouncil.ca or call 1-844-877-1163 for more information.

Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions to The Observer mailed within Canada/U.S. are available by contacting the office or visiting online: observerxtra.com/subscribe

Delivery Concerns: Issues with local delivery can be directed to The Record by calling 519-894-3000.

Letters to the Editor: Letters must be exclusive to this publication on a topic of relevance to the community. It must contain the author's name, address, contact info and be no more than 300 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. The Observer declines announcements, poetry, thank-you and unsigned letters. Deliver to: editor@woolwichobserver. com or online: observerxtra.com/letters Store: www.newsmart.ca

STEVE KANNON Editor's Point of View

Heather Slade plays with her dog Frankie, a golden retriever, on the snow-covered field beside the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira on Wednesday, the first day of winter. Leah Gerber

Lancers on ice Rangers earn a break

News that hits home. Local people in action.

Sports tips are always welcome.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com

Team Scores: observerxtra.com/scores

You say you want a resolution

As I noted in my last column, the holiday season is not very easy on your average outdoors enthusiast. There is a pressure to conform in terms of gift giving, and now – as we approach the new year – with resolutions as well.

Like many of you, I have always found New Year’s resolutions difficult to make and keep. That is not to say that I take these things lightly though. The problem with my resolutions is that, while they may seem meaningful and noble to me, they are not necessarily that to the people around me. Sometimes, for inexplicable reasons too.

Take last year’s resolution, which was meant to address concerns from my partner Jenn.

She had spent the previous fall complaining that my early morning duck calling was horrible. And while I didn’t think so, I thought perhaps the best thing I could do to ease her concerns was to get better at it. You know, meet her lofty standard of what good duck calling sounds like.

As I have often said, I am nothing if not a romantic.

That’s why I was proud of myself at the end of last January. For up to that point, I had kept my resolution to practice duck calling in the house every morning. And, not to brag, but I had perfected it.

Jenn thought so too, because one day at one of my “quack of dawn” sessions, I asked Jenn if I needed much more practice. She just looked at me and yelled, “That’s enough!” I would have said enthusiastically, but it’s hard to tell when a person is only half awake.

This left me resolution-free for almost 11 months, which gave me a lot of time to think about

STEVE GALEA Not-So-Great Outdoorsman

this year’s resolution.

Somewhere during that time, it occurred to me that Jenn always goes on about how she loves surprises. Coincidentally, one of the things I vowed to do is utilize my camouflaged clothing a lot more.

Which is why I came up with my resolution for 2023. That being, surprise Jenn as much as possible through the judicious use of camouflage clothing.

I’m thinking this will be good for both of us.

If my past attempts at this are any indication, Jenn will immediately experience the health benefits that come from unexpected periods of elevated heart rates and involuntary standing broad jumps. And I will get way better at camouflaging myself, which will come in handy, during the 2023 hunting season as well as those times when she wants someone to rake the leaves with.

All this is to say that this resolution will benefit us both. And, if I can keep it up until the end of January, it will also be the longest I have ever kept a resolution.

Frankly, I’m excited about it.

I can hardly wait to see the look on Jenn’s face as I surprise her by jumping out from a snowbank or pile of leaves. No doubt she’ll be happier after the infusion of these additional surprises in her life.

But, of course, this is a resolution so the question is, how long will it last?

I can envision it lasting for quite a while, but I can’t speak for Jenn. I imagine, for her, it will go on until she has seen enough.

Applejacks post pair of wins, hold division’s second spot

win.

WITH JUST ONE GAME LEFT heading into the Christmas break, the Wellesley Applejacks sit in second place in the South Doherty Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

The team is coming off a pair of wins last weekend, a 4-3 decision in New Hamburg December 16, followed by a 4-1 final at home against Hespeler on Saturday.

The Jacks are 19-5-1-1, their 40 points six back of the division-leading New Hamburg Firebirds (22-31-1). They sit nine points ahead of both the Norwich Merchants and Tavistock Braves.

On the road Dec. 16 night, the Jacks staked a 3-0 lead in the first period, but relied on a late goal to finally take the

Isiah Katsube opened the scoring seven minutes into the first period, with assists going to Dimitri Eleftheriadis and Tyler Bender. Adam Hoff made it 2-0 for the visitors at 13:41 with some help from Kyle Baker and Koby Seiling. And less than a minute later, the Jacks were up by three courtesy of Seiling’s goal, assisted by Hoff and Baker.

New Hamburg got one back with less than a minute remaining in the frame, but the lift from a late-period goal paid delayed dividends: there was no scoring at all in the second and the Firebirds didn’t get another until almost nine minutes into the third to make it a 3-2 game. The home side made a real game of it with two and a half minutes to go in regulation, tying the score at

3-3, but Carson Wickie’s tenth goal of the year with just 31 seconds left on the clock put the game in win column. Assists went to Eleftheriadis and Baker.

Shots were 47-32 in favour of New Hamburg, who scored twice in four power-play opportunities, while Wellesley went 0-5. Goaltender Noah Bender stopped 44 to pick up the win.

Back at home in Wellesley Saturday night, the Jacks had something of a déjà vu – three goals in the first, no scoring in the second and one in the third – but the game played out differently, though the ‘W’ was the thing again.

The visiting Hespeler Shamrocks got on the board first, but that would be it for their scoring touch. Less than a minute later, at 12:36, Wickie tied it up, assisted by

Seiling and Hoff. Thirty-six seconds later, the Jacks went ahead for good when Eleftheriadis scored, assisted by Justin McCombs and Tristan Romany.

It was 3-1 Wellesley when Seiling, from McCombs and Baker, scored on the power play at 16:38.

After some back-andforth play for the next 40 minutes, Eleftheriadis (McCombs) put it away with an empty-net goal at 18:54.

The Applejacks are in Norwich on the night before Christmas Eve (Friday) before taking a break for the holidays. They’re next in action January 6 when they welcome the seventhplace Paris Mounties (1-22-1-2) to the Wellesley arena. The following night, they play host to the Tavistock Braves.

The EDSS girls’ hockey team ran their record to 7-0 with a 7-1 win Dec. 21 over Jacob Hespeler Secondary School. The boys, meanwhile, were 4-0-0-1 heading into the Christmas break, having posted a 5-1 over Huron Heights on Dec. 20.

The Kitchener Rangers posted their sixthstraight victory and their seventh win in their last eight games after recording a 5-1 road win over the Mississauga Steelheads Dec. 18. With the win, the Rangers became the hottest team in the OHL heading into the Christmas Break, averaging 5.33 goals-for per-game and only allowing 1.16 goalsagainst in a six-game winning-streak.

Not-So-Great Outdoorsman

Steve Kannon Observer Staff

The EDSS senior girls’ volleyball team defeated the visiting squad from Eastwood Collegiate 3-0 on Dec. 20 in Elmira. Leah Gerber

Junior C hockey

2023 Regional Plan and Budget

Meetings for the 2023 Plan and Budget Committee for the Regional Municipality will be held on the following dates:

•Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

•Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

•Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

•Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm

Public Input meetings will be held on the following dates:

•Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.

•Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.

All Meetings will be held at: Regional Council Chamber 150 Frederick Street, 2nd Floor, Kitchener

If you wish to appear in person or electronically as a delegation during a Public Input meeting, please visit the Region’s website for more information and to complete and submit an online form:

https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regional-government/communicate-with -council.aspx

Final approval of the Region’s 2023 Operating Budget and Ten-Year Capital Program is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. You can watch any of the scheduled budget or Council meetings on the Region’s website at: https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regional-government/live-webcast.aspx.

For a copy of the budget schedule or for more information about the Regional budget, please visit our website:

https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regional-government/budget-and-finance -archives.aspx. Notice of these meetings is being given in accordance with the “Municipal Act”, as amended, and the Region’s Notice Policy.

William Short Regional Clerk

December 20, 2022

The EDSS junior girls; volleyball team competed against Eastwood Collegiate Institute on Dec. 20. The final score was 3-0 in favour of the Lancers. Leah Gerber

Leading the way.

Shining a light on local enterprise, stoking the economic engines.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com

New Business: observerxtra.com/enterprise

Health and wellness tops this trends list

Staying healthy just keeps getting more important – ask anyone staring down a waiting line in a hospital emergency ward over the holidays.

Illnesses that require hospitalization don’t always stem from poor nutrition, of course. But it’s a fact that undernourished, unhealthy people are less able to fight disease when they’re sick.

As pressure mounts on medical facilities, it makes sense that new efforts be made to steer people away from illness. And that’s a big reason why health and wellness is being called the top food trend for 2023.

Starting in the US, 2023 is when a new Farm Bill is expected. About every five years, the congress there creates a new Farm Bill, worth billions (and billions and billions –well over $100 billion). It covers the waterfront of support for farmers, as well as food programs for schools, which are huge.

Although it’s US-centred, the Farm Bill is a global pacesetter and quite likely the single most influential piece of legislation in agriculture and food, anywhere in the world.

As you can imagine, the landing spot for this massive amount of

money is highly political and involves widespread public meetings to determine priorities. At one such hearing in early December, New Jersey senator Cory Booker noted that nearly $1 of every $3 in the federal budget goes towards health care spending. Reeling in that figure underlines the need to promote better-eating programs.

To him, that includes eating more fruit and vegetables. Booker noted Americans are told about half of what they consume should be fruit and vegetables… but by his count, only about 10 per cent of the farm bill subsidies go to that sector.

Those figures ring alarm bells for other commodities, such as the more powerful grain and oilseed lobby and the beef lobby. Expect them to become highly vocal about the health and wellness attributes of the crops they grow and the livestock they raise. And that in itself will keep health and wellness the key trend for 2023.

It’s also number-one

Over the course of the 2022, Ontario added more than 48,000 residential homes, MPAC reports. While the number of new detached homes increased 10.5% year over year (25,727, up from 23,279), the number of new residential condominiums dropped by 37.4%. There was also a small increase in new townhouses, coming in at approximately 1.3%.

Some 76% of businesses that have offered remote work since the start of the pandemic say they are continuing to allow their employees to work remotely. The most cited reason is to help attract and retain employees (66%), according to a new Harris Poll. Nearly half of employers (49%) say remote work has had a positive impact on their company as a whole.

Demand hits new highs even as charities struggle with drop in giving

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

INFLATIONARY PRESSURES AND OTHER ECONOMIC woes have seen charitable giving decrease across the country, an issue for local groups such as the United Way Waterloo Region Communities, which has seen donations fall by 15 per cent over this time last year.

“[It] is really scary. We are really, really rushing to try and get people to try and help, said the agency’s CEO,” Joan Fisk, of the decline in giving.

A new report by Imagine Canada, which provides support to charities and non-profits, finds the United Way is not alone in that regard. The survey found that 48 per cent of Canadian adults were planning on donat-

ing during the holiday season, an eight percentage-point decrease compared to 2021. Of those who said that would still make a donation, 38 per cent said they plan to give less this year.

“Close to 40 per cent of individual giving [takes place] in the last eight weeks of the year. Charities and non-profits rely heavily on the season of giving in Canada, so it

looks like it’s going to be a difficult time,” said Imagine Canada president and CEO Bruce MacDonald.

As with many charities, the local United Way organization hopes to leverage the holiday season to bolster its fundraising campaigns.

“Our campaign season runs from October to December because some of our workplace orga-

Pace of residential builds Work from home sticks

United Way CEO Joan Fisk (second from right) was joined by then-mayor Kathryn McGarry of Cambridge, Kitchener mayor Berry Vrbanovic and regional Chair Karen Redman at the organization’s campaign launch in September. Submitted

ROBERTS: Grocers likely to use higher profits in food-based health

in Canada with Kitchener-based health and wellness expert Jane Dummer, a registered dietitian who released her always-interesting annual food trends forecast mid-December.

But this year, Dummer expects people to have an eye on their pocketbook more than ever.

“Consumers are actively looking for affordable ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” she says. To her, that includes approaches such as buying in bulk, opting for private labels instead of name brands, cooking from scratch rather than using pre-prepared products, reducing spending on luxury items such as caviar, truffles, specialty or limited cheeses and meats, and purchasing fewer items to avoid food waste.

That means the companies that dominate grocery shelves must do some navel gazing.

“Brands will have many opportunities to test their capabilities to new limits,” she says. “To meet the nutritional, environmental and

economic demands of consumers, manufactures must innovate to extract the maximum value from raw materials and the production process.”

Other trends she mentions are upcycling food waste to turn it into nutritional ingredients, regenerative farming, healthy food for pets and environmentally friendly food.

Grocers can afford to make some changes. They used to talk about their operations having razor-thin profit margins. But most lately, some of those with a high profile and high consumer interface, are clearly taking profits from the rising cost of food.

Loblaw Companies Ltd., for example, reported that its third-quarter profit in 2022 rose about 30 per cent compared with a year ago.

My own prediction? They’ll use some of those profits to invest in greater food-based health and wellness for their customers, or risk losing them to smaller competitors who show they genuinely care.

CHARITIES: Donations are down nationally, though there are some exceptions

nizations like banks run their campaigns then, but right now, this is when we hope individuals in our community will see the importance of donating to United Way.… We really hope to inspire people this time of year because giving seems to resonate with folks now more than any time in the year,” said Fisk.

United Way has also seen a doubling in the amount of funding requested by the organizations it supports. The $2.5 million sought each quarter far exceeds the $700,000 to $1 million that’s available.

“We wouldn’t normally get $2.5 million requested a quarter. And they’re all legitimate requests. There’s nothing in there that you would say to yourself, ‘oh.’ We’re not able to fund people with the amount that they asked. We’re really getting out a third of the asks right now,” said Fisk.

Such increased demands are reflected in data from across Canada, MacDonald explained.

“Not only does inflation impact decreasing resources for charities,

there’s an inverse effect. It increases demand for services. If families are struggling, where do they go to for support? They go to charities and nonprofits. So it makes it doubly difficult because organizations are struggling to meet rising demand due to resources,” he said.

One organization bucking the trend this year is Woolwich Community Services. While it’s seen an increase in requests for the Christmas hampers it prepares, the agency has been able to meet the demand.

“So far our numbers have increased as far as the number of hampers we gave out, but we were able to accommodate all those needs from the generosity of the commu-

nity,” said executive director Kelly Christie.

Unlike the United Way, WCS has actually seen an increase in the amount of donations it has received.

“I’m going to suggest that donations might be slightly up. I have a wonderful sense of that. “We live in a very giving community and very supportive community that really focuses on taking care of each other and we have been able to meet the needs because of the generosity,” said Christie.

“I think smaller communities support themselves a little bit better than the bigger whole because of the compelling nature of it,” Fisk noted.

While MacDonald said

it is hard to predict if an ease in inflation would mean increase in the number of Canadians donating to charities, the challenges could persist into next year.

“What we know from experience is that the health of the non-profit sector is linked to the health of the economy. So we are looking at what the economists are saying. They’re saying that the first two quarters of 2023 are likely recessionary times. That will mean that the pressure of increased demand and decreased resources will continue. That will be tough for charities and non-profits,” he said.

Fisk agreed that it is hard to predict what will happen, noting how hard inflation has been for everyone.

“I think inflation has made it harder. Butter used to cost X and margarine used to cost whatever, and now it’s $9 a tub – it’s hard to believe it. Never mind gas, some of these folks don’t have a car or more than one car.

So, we look at the power that poverty holds on people. It’s often cyclical.”

United Way volunteers make a pick up of toys donated to the agency. Submitted

Advertising

Seven days. One paper.

A bestseller every week.

Phone: 519-669-5790 ext 104 Email: ads@woolwichobserver.com Job Listings: jobs.observerxtra.com

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Family Album Notices: Order and pay for family announcement notices online at: observerxtra.com/order-family-album

Farm Services

BAGGED PINE SHAVINGS AGRICULTURAL Spray Lime, 22.5kg. bag; feed grade lime, 25kg. Delivered. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

Placing a classified ad

All classified advertising is prepaid. Ads will be accepted in person, email, or phone during regular office hours. Deadline is Wednesdays by 10am. Order and pay online at: observerxtra.com/classifieds

Residential: $9 per 20 words (20¢ per extra word)

Commercial: $15 per 20 words (30¢ per extra word)

Farm Services

FERTILIZER AND SEED GRAIN - AT COMPETItive pricing. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141.

Coming Events

Our highly sought after suites have a rare opportunity of the immediate availability of a 2 Bedroom unit in our tastefully decorated mature living rentals. This unit includes use of all amenities without extra fees. We are located in the heart of St Jacobs. For more information including pricing please visit www.stjacobshomelofts.ca or call (519)664-1919 ext. #1

ICE SALT & ICE MELT - ICE SALT COMES IN 20kg, Ice melt comes in 20kg bags. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

KILN DRIED CORN & CORN SCREENING Delivered by Einwechter. Minimum 15 ton lots. Call George Haffner Trucking 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

Wanted LOOKING FOR

COMMERCIAL

SPACE

(750-1250sq.ft.) to lease for a kids' recreation program. If you have an empty space sitting unused that you think would work, please contact Mark at 519-577-7874.

1172 Henry Street, Wellesley,Ontario. N0B2T0 519-656-2880 www.futher-franklinfuneralhome.com Pre-arrangingyourfuneralis animportantpartofestateplanning. Askus aboutthemanyfundingoptionsavailable.

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year. Peace, hope and love. Feel free to call anytime with any antique items you wish to dispose of. Call Terry 519-242-6900 or gallamore@golden.net

KARATE HOLIDAY SPECIAL! SCHWEITZER'S MARTIAL ARTS 8 weeks plus uniform only $139.50! Taxes extra. Beginners only. Join now or give as a gift Special ends Jan. 7, 2023 Group classes for ages 4 to adult Classes taught by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt and 12X World Karate Champion Location at St. Peters Lutheran Church - 2925 Lobsinger Line, Heidelberg Call 519-580-1418 or e-mail becky_ schweitzer@ hotmail.com www. schweitzersmartialarts.com

The EDSS girls' hockey team defeated visiting Huron Heights by a score of 5-2 Dec. 14 at the WMC. Leah Gerber

Living Here

It's about all of us.

Leading the way reporting about the people and places of home.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Report it: observerxtra.com/tips

A resource for those who love puzzles

In the vein of little libraries, Elmira man builds a puzzle box for those to share

Observer Staff

AT THE START OF THE pandemic, Elmira’s Larry Wiens needed more jigsaw puzzles.

“My inventory of puzzles was down when COVID came, so access to get some was down too. So, we stepped outside the box,” he said.

Wiens loves puzzles. He says he completes about one puzzle a week.

“I’m a mechanical person, so I can just chill out [with a puzzle],” he said.

Based on the “little library” format, he decided to make a box on his front lawn to hold puzzles up for grabs, a leave-one-ifyou-have-it-take-one-ifyou-need-it situation. And he stocked it with his own puzzles.

Wiens said the box took him about six hours or so to make. The door is an old window from a construction site that a client let him take.

Judging by the response, the community loves it. His front lawn has a small pathway of tracks leading to the box from neighbours stopping by.

“It’s used quite a bit,” Wiens said. “Can hardly keep the grass growing underneath it. Maybe not that bad, but it’s a good response.”

Wiens said people often donate half a dozen puzzles at a time. He received a phone call from people in Waterloo thanking him for the puzzle box (he has his cell phone number on the box in case people need it.)

Even Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis gave him a recognition from the House of Commons for the puzzle box as a positive neighbourly gesture during rough pandemic times.

Now the community has access to free puzzles, and Wiens has a constant fresh supply available just outside his Charles Street home.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Once daylight saving time ends, I find it difficult as it gets darker earlier. I also notice that I get a bit more depressed in the winter.

My friend suggested a light box for seasonal affective disorder. What is a light box? And can it be helpful in improving my mood?

Red Cross Africa appeal Spending choices loom

A new poll for the Ontario Real Estate Association found that 64% of Ontarians spend more than 30% of their household budget on housing. Further, 95% agree life is more expensive today than it was just two years ago. Many Ontario families are reducing entertainment or meals out, driving less, and spending less on groceries to cut back in light of rising rates.

Practicing gratitude for mental health

Woolwich Counselling Centre

As we come to the end of the year, many of us look back with thankfulness for all the blessings we experienced.

Even for those of us who faced hardship or loss this year, practicing gratitude – as difficult as this can be in the moment – can help improve mental health.

What does it mean to be grateful? Practicing gratitude is a part of positive thinking, and it contributes to our perspectives and how we view the world around us. It does not mean convincing ourselves that everything is fine or blocking out difficulties. It means intentionally choosing to focus and draw attention to the goodness in our lives.

Many of us express gratitude by saying “thank

→

Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder

with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.

own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.

ANSWER: Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that typically occurs each year during fall and winter. If you're like most people

It is important not to brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you must tough out on your

The use of light therapy can offer relief. But, for some people, light therapy may be more effective when combined with another SAD treatment, such as an antidepressant or psychological counsel-

ing, or psychotherapy. Light therapy boxes for SAD treatment also are known as light boxes, bright light therapy boxes and phototherapy boxes. All light therapy boxes for SAD treatment are designed do the same thing, but one type may work better for you than another.

A light therapy box mimics outdoor light. Researchers believe this type of light causes a chemical change in the brain that lifts your mood and eases other symptoms of SAD.

Generally, the light box should provide an exposure to 10,000 lux of light

The Canadian Red Cross has launched the Africa Humanitarian Crisis Appeal to support people hit hard by multiple humanitarian crises in Somalia and other impacted African countries. The support may include health care, relief supplies and assistance for individuals and families, displaced populations, and those experiencing food insecurity.

▢ Mayo Clinic

Professional Clinical Health Advice

Leah Gerber

Larry Weins’ love of puzzles saw him construct this box outside his home, and earn kudos from Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis. Leah Gerber



and emit as little ultraviolet, or UV, light as possible.

Typical recommendations include using the light box:  Within the first hour of waking up in the morning.  For about 20 to 30 minutes. 

At a distance of about 16 to 24 inches from the face.  With eyes open, but not looking directly at the light.

Light boxes are designed to be safe and effective, but they aren't approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration for SAD treatment, so it's important to understand your options.

You can buy a light box without a prescription. Your health care provider may recommend a specific light box, but most health insurance plans do not cover the cost.

It's best to talk with your health care provider about choosing and using a light therapy box. If you're experiencing both SAD and bipolar disorder, the advisability and timing of using a light box should be carefully reviewed with your health care provider. Increasing exposure too fast or using the light box for too long each time may induce manic symptoms if you have bipolar disorder.

If you have past or current eye problems, such as glaucoma, cataracts or eye damage from diabetes, get advice from your eye care provider before starting light therapy.

Here are some questions to think about when buying a light box for seasonal affective disorder:



Is it made specifically to treat SAD? If not, it may not help your depression. Some light therapy lamps are designed for skin disorders, not for SAD. Lamps used for skin disorders primarily emit UV light and could damage your eyes if used incorrectly.

Light boxes used to treat SAD should filter out most or all UV light.

How bright is it?

Light boxes produce different intensities of light. Brighter boxes will require less time to use each day, compared with dimmer boxes, to achieve the same effect. Typically, the recommended intensity of light is 10,000 lux. 

How much UV light does it release?

Light boxes for SAD should be designed to filter out most or all UV light. Contact the manufacturer for safety information if you have questions. 

Can it cause eye damage? Some light boxes include features designed to protect the eyes. Make sure the light box filters out most or all UV light to avoid damaging your eyes. Ask your eye care provider for advice on choosing a light box if you have eye problems, such as glaucoma, cataracts or eye damage from diabetes. 

Is it the style you need? Light boxes come in different shapes and sizes, with varied features. Some look like upright lamps, while others are small and rectangular. The effectiveness of a light box depends on daily use, so buy one that's convenient for you. 

Can you put it in the right location?

Think about where you'll want to place your light box and what you might do during its use, such as reading. Check the manufacturer's instructions, so you receive the right amount of light at the proper distance.

Again, talk to your health care professional about light box options and recommendations, so you get one that's best suited to your needs.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

▢ Friday Food at the Elmira Legion. Doors open at 4 p.m., serving at 5:45 p.m. Menu: sweet and sour meatballs, egg rolls & plum sauce with rice, and dessert $10/plate. Join us in the lounge. All welcome.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31

▢ Woolwich Observer Free Skate and Swim at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. Bring the family & friends and enjoy swimming, skating or both. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4

▢

Senior's Community Dining at Calvary United, St. Jacobs. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost $12. Must register by noon on December 30 by calling 519-664-1900.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5

▢ Movie Shorts 4 Climate Change, Inspired by the work of Environmental Activist Greta Thunberg. Grade 9 to 12 students are invited to join us for a movie, snacks and discussion about climate change in our Township at the Woolwich Memorial Centre's the Hub from 6 p.m to 8:30 p.m. No Charge. RSVP to Kiara kiaram.wcs@gmail.com or 519-669-5139.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

▢ Friday Food at the Elmira Legion Branch 469. Doors open at 4 pm. 11 First Street East, Elmira 519-669-2932. Sausage potato chowder, grilled cheese sandwich, Mississippi mud pie $10.00/plate. Serving starts at 5:45pm. Join us in the lounge, all welcome

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

▢ Senior's Community Dining at Wellesley Community Centre. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost $12. Must register by noon on January 6 by calling 519-664-1900.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25

▢ Senior's Community Dining at Linwood Community Centre. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost $12. Must register by noon on January 20 by calling 519-664-1900.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9

▢ Woodside Evergreen for Seniors at Woodside Church, Elmira. "Eating Well for Less" by Amy Sonnenberg, Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Music by Joyce Ruppert and Encouraging Words by Pastor Daniel Moes, Woodside. Suggested donation $10 includes hot lunch. Preregister by February 5 at www.woodsidechurch.ca/evergreen or 519-669-1296.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

▢ Woodside Evergreen for Seniors at Woodside Church, Elmira. "Songs and Stories of Bringing Healing and the Gospel of Jesus to the Indigenous People of Canada" by Rick and Linda Martin of Niverville, Manitoba. Suggested donation $10 includes hot lunch. Preregister by March 9 at www.woodsidechurch.ca/evergreen or 519-669-1296.

You made the nice list.

Enjoy the last Free Skate or Swim of 2022 on us!

There are some big plans in store for The Observer in 2023! This past year has been another successful year rebuilding the business to pre-pandemic levels. We recognize the amazing support of loyal advertisers and readers here in our community to our success.

To show our thanks we’re sponsoring a FREE Skate or Swim on the last day of 2022 from 9am to 11am at the WMC. We hope as many of you as possible can attend to enjoy this family-friendly event to cap off an amazing year.

to and our

The role of the newspaper to inform, entertain and hold those in power to account is needed now more than ever. We will be creating new ways to deliver great experiences and connect to our communities in 2023.

Have a happy, healthy New Year in 2023!

From all of us at The Observer!

A make-ahead New Year’s Day family breakfast

French toast casserole is the perfect New Year's Day breakfast. It serves the whole family at once, can be dressed up with sweet or savory sides, and, with our recipe, can be prepped ahead of time and baked off when everyone wakes up.

Our recipe uses sturdy potato bread instead of white bread or challah. The robust slices are just big

▢ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened, plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

▢ 3/4 cup packed (5 1/4 ounces) brown sugar

▢America's Test Kitchen

enough to fit cleanly in the dish and they soak up the egg mixture and bake into a tidy casserole that is easily divided into portions. We developed this recipe using Martin's Potato Bread, which has 16 slices per loaf,

so you'll need to buy two loaves. With other brands, it may also be necessary to trim the slices to fit six in a single layer.

We also made sure the casserole could be assembled and soaked in the custard overnight, so you can do the work the night before and reap the benefits in the morning. Good news for planners, procrastinators and late sleepers.

French Toast Casserole

▢ 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg ▢ 1/8 teaspoon salt ▢ 18 slices potato sandwich bread ▢ 2 1/2 cups whole

1. Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13-by 9-inch baking dish with softened butter. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl.

2. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the brown sugar mixture evenly over bottom of the prepared dish. Place six bread slices (use bread heels here) in an even layer in the bottom of the dish. Brush the bread with 1 1/2 tablespoons of melted

butter and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of the sugar mixture.

3. Place six bread slices in a single layer over the first layer, brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter, then sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of the sugar mixture. Place the remaining six bread slices over the previous layer and brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter.

4 In a separate bowl, whisk the milk and eggs together until well combined. Pour the milk

milk

▢ 6 large eggs

▢ 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted ▢ Confectioners' sugar

mixture over the bread and press lightly to submerge. Sprinkle with almonds and the remaining heaping 3 tablespoons of the sugar mixture.

5. Bake until the casserole is slightly puffed and golden brown and bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes. Transfer the casserole to a wire rack, brush with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter, and let it cool for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.

you” to someone who has helped us or given us a gift. However, from a scientific perspective, gratitude is not just an action. It is also a positive emotion that serves a biological purpose. Gratitude is more than feeling thankful: It is a deeper appreciation for someone (or something) that produces longer lasting positivity, which in turn leads to improvements in physical and mental health.

For many who focus on gratitude regularly, it becomes a way of life and a state of being. The more you practice something, the easier it becomes. Here are some tips to practice gratitude to help you get started on this journey.

Keep a gratitude

ↆ

journal: Write down three things each day that you can be grateful for. This may sound cheesy, but when you write down the things that you are thankful for, you are forced to pay attention to the good in your life. A study found that people who kept gratitude journals felt more thankful, positive, and optimistic about the future. They also slept better.

Replace complaints with gratitude: When you find yourself focusing on what you believe you are lacking – I wish my car were nicer, my house were bigger, I had more money –replace it with thoughts of what you are thankful for.

Keep a gratitude jar: This is a special jar where you save gratitude statements at the end of the

day. A gratitude statement acknowledges something you appreciate or are thankful for. Examples of statements include: I felt happy today when…, I was proud of myself today because…, Something funny that happened today…,Today I had fun when….

Take a gratitude walk: Go for a walk and make a special effort to appreciate your surroundings. You might notice the smell of flowers, an interesting building, or a soothing breeze. Spend a few minutes focusing on each of your senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch) to find new things you may not have noticed before.

What are you grateful for today?

www.woolwichcounselling.org.

ↆ For 25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America's Test Kitchen for rigourously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at www. amercastestkitchen.com

Rigorously tested recipes that work.

This article is brought to you by Woolwich Counselling Centre. This nonprofit counselling agency creates awareness and provides education to promote emotional and mental wellness for individuals, families, businesses, and others in Woolwich and Wellesley. Check out their upcoming small group therapy sessions and workshops at

WELLBEING: Keeping track of what makes you grateful